Effect of Subretinal Fluid Drainage Using Perfluorocarbon During Retinal Detachment Repair on Postoperative Metamorphopsia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine whether subretinal fluid drainage (SRF) using perfluorocarbon (PFC) during rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair reduces postoperative metamorphopsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients after RRD were evaluated for best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), funduscopy, and metamorphopsia using M-CHARTS. Fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography were performed. Clinical and operative data were collected. RESULTS: The cohort included 30 patients, of whom 11 (36.7%) underwent intraoperative PFC injection. Rates of macula-off RRD were similar in the two groups (54.5% and 47.4%, P = .705). No association was found between PFC injection and metamorphopsia score. Preoperative macula-off RRD was associated with significantly higher vertical and horizontal metamorphopsia scores than preoperative macula-on. BCVA was significantly worse in the patients with metamorphopsia (logMAR 0.15 vs. logMAR 0.04; P = .042) CONCLUSION: Intraoperative, SRF drainage with PFC appears to have no beneficial effect on postoperative metamorphopsia. Metamorphopsia is associated with macular status.